Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Antonio Pappano leads the wonderful Chamber Orchestra of Europe in a program that celebrates the marriage of jazz and classical music with Bertrand Chamayou, one of the Opéra de Dijon’s most faithful partners.

As with Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps, Darius Milhaud took inspiration from the painter Fernand Léger and his African references, composing in 1923 his Création du monde: the power of pagan mythology, under the influence of New Orleans jazz, is carried by percussion, piano and saxophone. A decade later, Gershwin took on the melody for I Got Rhythm, first written for piano, but then onto which he added virtuoso variations, for which the sophisticated mood makes up – of course! – the lion’s share of the rhythm. Another decade later, Bernstein would celebrate dance, based on the banter of sailors on leave in New York, in his ballet Fancy Free, which would serve as a basis for his musical On the Town. Then comes the jewel in the crown, because nothing glistens like Ravel’s admirable Concerto in G, whose Adagio opens with one of the most achingly beautiful melodies ever written. A "soul" score, if ever there was one, where the influence of jazz, perceptible in the syncopated rhythms and accents reminiscent of Gershwin, mixes with that unique sense of refinement, modesty and classicism so characteristic of Ravel, whose 150th birthday will be celebrated in 2025.

Musical director Antonio Pappano
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Piano Bertrand Chamayou

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Darius Milhaud
La Création du monde op. 81a

Maurice Ravel
Concerto in G major

George Gershwin
Variations for piano and orchestra on "I Got Rhythm"

Leonard Bernstein
Fancy Free [complete ballet]